The crocus : containing original poems, for young people

I

CROCUS,

CONTAINING

ORIGINAL POEMS,

I

YOUNG PEOPLE.

BY J. E. M.

ACCOMPANIED WITH ENGRAVINGS.

I

•
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LONDON:

WILLIAM DARTON, 58, HOLBORN HILL;

Sol 1 also by

HAKVEY AND DARTON, 55, GRACECHURCH STREET ; AND
JOHN HARRIS, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD.

Price Is. with •PPMHHHHBHMHMfrt^ Plates Coloured.

CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION

LIBRARY OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

6x Jjbris

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

Collection of
Children's Books

THE

CROCUS,

CONTAINING

ORIGINAL POEMS,

YOUNG PEOPLE.

By J. E. M.

ACCOMPANIED WITH ENGRAVINGS.

WILLIAM DARTON, 53, HOLBORN HILL;

Sold also by

HARVEY and DARTON, 55, Graccchurch Street, and
JOHN HARRIS, St. Paul's Church Yard.

THE CROCUS.

To a Coivslip blooming in January.

THOU little, lovely, balmy flower, ,
Tell me, what secret, potent power

So soon could give thee birth ?
Dost thou not know the surly blast,
The beating hail, when heav'n 's o'ercast,

Might crush thee to the earth ?

Or didst thou think, because 'twas mild,
Nature's fair offspring, beauteous child,

Might leave its lowly bed ;
And fearless on its slender stalk
Might bud, and deck the morning walk,

Graced by its modest head ?

Indeed, I should rejoice to see

Thy trembling bells 'neath many a tree,

Hang nodding to the gale,
If meek-ey'd Spring had ventured forth,
And all the ruffians of the north

Had bid us long farewell.

But oh! I tremble when I think,
Thou stand'st on ruin's fearful brink;

And e'en this very day
Should Boreas in his anger blow,
He'd cover thee with frost and snow,

Or sweep thee quite away.

And hark ! I hear the tempest rise,
I mark the aspect of the skies —

The fatal warning 's given :
Farewell, thou sweet, advent'rous flower,
I leave thee in thy danger's hour,

To the kind care of heaven.

To a Fly buzzing round the Candle.

Go, foolish fly, nor in the flame

Thy silken wings consume;
That very pleasure here thou seek'st,

Will prove thy fatal tomb.

Thou dream'st not of a burning power

That lurks beneath the prize ;
No sooner is thy wish obtained

Than it that moment dies.

Thy thoughtless whirls, round ruin's brink

A lecture sure may teach
To man, as thoughtless as thyself —

Sound as divines can preach.

For he, like thee, too oft, alas !

With Satan's lure complies ;
Just tastes the sweet the bait affords,

Then languishes and dies.

Then learn, O giddy, thoughtless youth !

Nor, with thy boasted power
Of reason, like the insect, fall

In vile seduction's hour.

For what is pleasure, if 'tis brought
By months and years of sorrow ?

Or, what that honied bliss today,
Which turns to gall tomorrow ?

Address to a Dead Bird.

SAY pretty, little, harmless thing,
What was it made thee die ?

The very thought that thou art dead,
I'm sure doth make me cry.

Perhaps 'twas pain acute that did
Thy little heart-strings break ;

Perhaps thou suffer'dst much and long,
Without the power to speak.

Yet this I know, and know it well,

It was not cruel want ;
Thy fountain always was supply'd,

Thy trough was never scant.

The best of seed thy daily food,
The plantain stalk so brown,

With groundsel too, of lively green,
Oft deck'd thy cage around.

When moulting's gloomy time drew near

To rob thee of thy coat,
And not one cheerful strain, all day,

Ere warbled from thy throat,

I watch'd thee; and, when sickness did

Thy little frame assail,
To cheer thee, I, within thy draught,

Immersed the rusty nail.

But, spite of all my anxious care,

Thy gentle breath is flown ;
And many a mortal well might wish,

Thy rest was but his own.

The Snail ; or, Vanity reproved.

" I cannot think," said John, one day?

As in the path a Snail
Did well denote the route he'd been,

Mark'd by his slimy tail ; —

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" I cannot guess," he said, " the use

Of reptiles such as these ;
Unless to eat the choicest fruit

That grows upon our trees.

" I know, papa has often said,

God nothing made in vain ;
But, that he never thought of snails,

I think must be quite plain.

" So, vermine, I will crush thee:" — " Hold !"

The reptile did reply;
" Impatient child ! thy foot forbear,

Nor me condemn to die !

"Dost think that God hath nothing made

But what 's of use to man ;
To serve his wants or vanity,

The whole of wisdom's plan ?

" Hath not that God who form'd us both,

Undoubted right to give
The snail beneath thy feet to crawl,

As thee, the boon to live ?

" Ten thousand insects born there are.

Life's varied bliss t' enjoy :
That life which God so kindly gives,

Wouldst thou in scorn destroy ?

" Then, pray forbear, unthinking boy,

And let me longer live,
Nor wish a life to take away

Not in thy pow'r to give/'

" I grant thy plea," said little John ;

" So, creeping friend, adieu ;
Fruit we shall find, no doubt, enough

To serve both me and you."

Disappointment ; or the Ride tosL

EDWIN, you know the horse is lame !

For shame ! what ! cry again !
And could you for a moment wish

The beast to go in pain?

Would you not rather stay at home,

And let the poor thing rest,
Than see me drive him in a gig,

In such extreme distress ?

Have you forgot, 'twas but last week.

When William hurt your toe,
You hopp'd about the house, and said

To school you could not go ?

Suppose that I had said, *' You shall,"
And whipp'd you all the way ;

Would you not then have thought it hard ?
" O, yes !" I hear you say.

Consider, then, that brutes can feel,

And strive to give relief
To every thing debarred of speech,
, Which can't reveal its grief.

WThat tho' the cloudless sky foretel

A day that will be fine !
To lose a ride, through charity,

You never can repine.

Such disappointments all must feel

In this uncertain state,
Then once more smile, my dearest boy,

Nor murmur at thy fate.

The deceased Parent.

" MY dear mamma, what makes you cry?

I cannot bear to see you weep;
Perhaps my dear papa's not dead, —

Perhaps he's only gone to sleep."

" Yes, dearest child, he's gone to sleep ;

He sleeps the silent sleep of death ;
And O ! that I had worlds to give,

Could they again recall his breath.

" No more thou'lt gaze upon his face,
Dear child, whilst seated on his knee,

Where oft thou'st heard the pleasing tale :
No more, my love, hell smile on thee !"

" But, dear mamma, you've often heard
Papa declare, when good men die

They go to heav'n, to live with God, —
Then tell me why it is you cry?"

" Ah ! dearest boy, didst thou but know.

How great the loss we both sustain,
You would not ask me why I weep,

Or think I shed one tear in vain.

" That he is happy, I've no fear ;

O may we sometimes share his joy !
Thou art my only comfort now,

To soothe my grief, my darling boy/'

The Orphan's Lament.

BEHOLD a little friendless child!

No house or home have I ;
The green grass oft my softest bed,

Unshelter'd from the sky.

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Two parents, who were kind and good

To me, I once possessed ;
But Providence remov'd them hence,

And left me here distress'd.

Oft by the stars' faint glimm'ring ray

My wakeful hours I keep,
Think on thatHeav'n to which they're gone,

Then lay me down to weep.

When gentle slumber's soft'ning pow'rs

My aching eyelids close,
Too short, indeed, and broken are

My moments of repose.

Last night I dream'd, as on the bank

Beneath the hedge I lay,
My mother took me by the hand,

And whisper'd " Come away !"

Yes, gladly will I follow thee !

Come Death's unerring dart,
Inflict the wound that bids life cease,

And ease my bleeding heart.

The Good Nursery -Maid.

COME, come, my dear children, and hasten to bed,
For I think you must now be quite tired ;

The sun too, you see, has long sunk in the West,
And the daylight is nearly expired.

Tomorrow, rny loves, you will have a new nurse,
You have oft heard me talk of the same ;

She's a nice healthy lass, with two plump rosy cheeks,
And Clara you'll find is her name.

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She has not been train'd, like too many poor girls,

In neglect of improvement of mind,
Her parents have taught her to love and fear God,

Which soon, my dear children, you'll find, —

By the lessons she'll give you, when walking abroad,

How Jehovah hath made all you see,"
From the bramble and daisy, that bloom at your feet.

To the aged and far-spreading tree.

She'll inform you that God, though exalted above,
And beyond all that man e'er conceives,

Condescends, in compassion, to mark our distress,
And the wants of his creatures relieves.

I believe she'll impart to you many great truths,
Which will tend to enlarge your young mind ;

And I hope, in return, you attentive will be,
And prove to her civil and kind.

For you, my dear children, must never forget,
That God made both the rich and the poor ;

And each, if deserving, will share in his love,
When this perishing world is no more.

From the mansions on high, wrhere this mighty God

dwells,

He looks down on our actions and ways ;
And the day's not far off, when the just Judge will

come,
And condemn, or acquit us with praise.

Condescension and Liberality rewarded.

" BLESS me, mamma, how warm it is today !
What must they feel who toil amidst the hay,
Who stand expos'd beneath the burning heat,
Without one friendly shade, one cool retreat ?

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See, how the perspiration from them breaks,

Standing in drops upon their sunburnt cheeks!

Those cheeks which well bespeak they labour hard,

A mark which claims our tenderest regard :

I really think I could never endure

To live one day, and labour like the poor."

" Dear Ann, if you from infancy had been
Brought up to labour hard, to toil or spin,
Use would inure you to those hardships, dear,
Which now, to you, so difficult appear.
Not but I grant their portion to be hard,
And think, like you, they justly claim regard ;
Tis theirs to labour for their daily food,
'Tis ours to study for their daily good."

<£ I think, mamma, the rich too often show
Whate'er they give they grudgingly bestow.
I do not mean that all unfeeling are,
And think the poor beneath their tender care ;
But some appear so haughty — proud to feel,
As if their hearts were made of brass or steel :
Now if they acted otherwise, I'm sure,
Much gratitude they'd find among the poor."

Yes, my dear Ann, a case not long ago
Most clearly proves they gratitude can show:
When, on a sudden, our own house was seen
To be on fire, by people on the Green,
How did they run, how from all quarters came,
And strove with all their might to stop the flame !
And why? because they knew we ne'er forgot
The sons of toil, the inmates of the cot ;
Nor ever will we; while life's currents flow
Around our heart, no changes shall it know.
Fi lend of the Friendless— shall my motto be,
And may that motto be transferred to thee.

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Do thou the same, dear girl, throughout thy life;
Be the kind friend, the patron, mother, wife:
These are the titles which shall thee secure
Wealth in abundance, permanent, and sure.

A Caution ; or, the Poisonous Berries.

THE sun shone warm upon a bank,
Where many flow'rs once grew,

Where many a primrose rear'd its head,
And many violets blue.

But summer now had given place

To autumn's sober reign,
And every daisy's bloom had fled

The once bespangled plain.

Now, fond mamma, her darling boy,

To take the morning air,
To this moss-grown and friendly bank

Did frequently repair.

The pendent boughs above their heads,
Robb'd of their mantle green —

But where the blossom once appeared,
The berry now was seen.

" O dear !" said James, " do, pray, but look,

I never chanced to see
Fruit half so beautiful as this,
Which grows beneath the tree.

" I think it must be good, mamma,

Therefore I'll have a treat,
For if its look so pretty be,

It must be good to eat."

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" Ah ! dearest child," mamma replied,
" Thou dost not seem aware,

That many a gilded bait without
Conceals an inward snare.

" Those ruby clusters there, that rise

And catch thy longing eye,
Are like the fruit of ancient date —

But eat, and thou shalt die.

" For tho' these berries look so fine,

And most delicious seem,
Beware the dang'rous touch, dear child-

For poison lurks within.

"There's many a sad deception, love,

In this vain world we find,
And many a dangerous trap is set

To catch a thoughtless mind.

" But, if your dear mamma should die,

Or you are far away,
And folly e'er should you persuade

From wisdom's paths to stray ;

" O then, dear boy, pray ne'er forget,

But well remember this,
That Vice, alluring, leads to death,

As Virtue guides to bliss."

The Contrast; or Flowers and Fruit.

"O WHAT a plague papa has had,

To raise this paltry tree !
Now, in its bloom, for my own part,

No beauty can I see.

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"A little flower, with colour none,

But nothing sweet I smell ;
I'm sure that stinging-nettle there

Pleases me quite as well.

"Had he but placed carnations here,

Or else a lovely rose,
Their beauties would have pleased my eye,

Their fragrance too, my nose."

"Go," said the plum-tree, "foolish child!

Nor longer me deride ;
Know this, that graces I possess

Which are to them denied.

" Those gaudy beauties you so praise,

Will very soon be found
To fade away upon their stalk,

And crumble to the ground.

" And so must I ; but when my bloom

Lies prostrate at my root,
The branch it leaves, empow'r'd by me,

Will yield delicious fruit.

" Now mark, my boy, this well-known truth

Which I to you relate —
Those flowers are merely gaudy toys,

But fruit is good to eat."

Bathing Time.

COME ! my charming, lovely boy,
See the water now appears,

Baby then must have a dip,
Over little head and ears.

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Pray, then, mother's darling child,

Don't begin your lip to pout,
'Tis to make you strong and well,

That you soon may run about :

'Tis but for a moment, love ;

Soon the painful task is o'er;
Baby soon shall rise again,

And be plung'd beneath no more.

There, now ! all is well again ;

Cease then, dearest, cease to cry ;
Mother will, beside the fire,

Wipe her lovely infant dry.

Many a dip that's more severe,
Thou, my love, may'st undergo ;

To thy share, perhaps, may fall
Many a bitter draught of woe.

Thou think'st it cruel, love, no doubt,
To take thee from thy downy bed.

And here, beneath the water cold,
To immerse thy little head.

If all thou couldst but understand,

My babe, thou then wouldst surely know

It was to gain thee future good
Thy careful mother-used thee so.

Thus our Heavenly Father oft,
Deep beneath affliction's wave,

Sees it fit the child to plunge,
He, in mercy, deigns to save.

Tis to make us strong and hale,
Strong in faith, in hope, and love ;

And when we are thus prepared,
Takes us to the realms above :

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Where, from every care exempt,
We for ever shall be blest,

Pain and labour know no more,
Crown'd with everlasting rest.

The Midnight Storm.

" O DEAR, mamma ! put up the clothes,

That I may hide my head,
For see, the lightning flashes round,

And thunders shake the bed.

" O dear ! do, pray, the curtain draw,

And pull the shutters to;
It cannot lighten then, I hope,

On either me or you."

" Lie still, dear child," the mother said,

" And let no false alarm
Thy peaceful slumbers e'er disturb ;

Ko lightning will thee harm.

" There is a God who rules above,

And whose almighty power
Preserves us from all ill by day.

And in the midnight hour.

"The forked flash that now descend

And thunders too that roll,
Alike are guided by his arm —

And under his control.

" The wicked only have to fear

The vengeance of his rod ;
The righteous safely may rely

On their protecting God '*

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The Reclaimed Dunce.

SAID Emma, one day, " I think I could play,
If it were for a month, and not tire ;"

So she took up her dolly, and call'd it sweet Polly,
Then set herself down by the fire.

She dress'd, and undress'd it, and fondly caress'd it,,

And she was as pleased as could be ;
But, in a good book, she never would look —

Such a silly, vain girl was she!

But Emily strove, with sisterly love,

To make her more wisely inclined ;
And so well did succeed, that she cured her, indeed,

Of having so thoughtless a mind.

She 's at length grown so good, as I've understood,
That now she can read, write, and spell ;

And her friends all declare, her conduct bids fair,
That, in learning, she soon will excel.

Her sister is glad, that a child once so bad,
Should now become careful and wise ;

And is thankful to find, that a once playful mind
Her instruction no more will despise.

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Impertinence and Cruelty chastised.

" MAMMA," said Jane, "pray speak to John;

Look here — see what he's done for me —
In climbing up to take a nest,

He's broken down my apple-tree !

" I told him 'twas a wicked thing,
To rob the birds, and spoil the trees ;

He said, I was ' a prating jade,'

And he would do what he should please.
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" Twas but last night he caught a dog.
And whilst James Harnett held its tail,

He to it, with a piece of string,
Fastened a worn-out milking-pail.

" The poor thing ran all down the lane,
And made a most distressing cry,

When every dog ran after him
That did by accident pass by.

" Now Farmer Jones came riding by,

And was quite shock'd the sight to see —

A boy so cruelly disposed,
At such a tender age as he !

" John call'd him then ' a bumpkin,'—' clown,
Who nothing knew about the matter ;

Bade him go home, and mind his farm,
And let him hear no more his chatter."

" Indeed ! Indeed !" said his papa,
For he had heard the whole affair,

" Are you quite sure, Jane, this is true ?"
Said Jane, with grief, " I thus declare/'

" But pray, papa, from what I've said
I hope you don't intend to beat him ?"

" O no, my dear," said her papa,

" I mean quite diff'rently to treat him."

So sending now for Master John,
He made him, on his bended knees,

Implore his sister to forgive
The damage he had done her trees.

To Farmer Jones, he next was sent,
To do the same, with all submission ;

Who said, he freely him forgave,
Upon his duly felt contrition.

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A paper on his back was pinn'd,
And down the village he was sent,

On which was written, " See, good folks,
I here of cruelty repent!"

Disgraced and humbled, he returned,
And prostrate lay upon the floor,

Begging his father to forgive
Those deeds he vow'd to do no more.

His father saw he was sincere,

And soon his weeping child he rais'd ;

For, though he blamed his conduct past,
His penitence he justly prais'd.

The Evening Shower.

IT is folly, my dear, to be vex'd,
To be crying and rubbing your eyes.

For the rain that's descending so fast
Is a blessing dispensed from the skies.

Besides, you have often declared

How much you're delighted with flowers,
But what would become of them, child,

Where it not for these plentiful showers ?

You see how they hang down their heads,
And wither and droop on their stalk ;

They seem as dejected as you,
In losing your evening walk.

You have oft, too, express'd your delight,
When regaled by the whispering breeze,

That hath shook the fair rose on its stem,
Or pass'd o'er the sweetbriar trees.

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Then dry up your tears, love, and smile,
Tho' deprived of your pleasure tonight —

Tomorrow's sweet breath of the morn
Shall repay you with joy and delight.

By this moisture refresh'd from on high,
The air will be fill'd with perfume ;

Carnations more fresh will appear —
The roses recover their bloom.

Besides, we must never forget,
That Christians must often forego

Their present enjoyments — for those
Which futurity has to bestow:

Faith and patience are requisite here,
And those who possess them are bless'd ;

They shed a sweet calm upon earth,
And lead us to heavenly rest.

The Inkstand overturned.

THERE, now ! you naughty little boy,

I knew it would be so,
You've knock'd the leaden inkstand down,

And sadly hurt my toe.

Besides, look here, your frock you've spoiPd ;

It never will come out ;
Why did you not take greater care

Of what you were about ?

Run, Ann ! make haste and fetch a cloth,

And see if you can get
The stains from off the carpet-rug—

Dear, how it makes me fret !

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What think you now, papa will say,

When he shall come to hear
That all this mischief you have done

By climbing up the chair ?

For tho' you are your father's joy,

Yet very well I know
He never can, in truth, be pleased

To find you've acted so.

Now pray don't stand and rub your eyes,
And make them look so red,

For then he'll see you've crying been —
And send you up to bed.

Come, say you will do so no more,

And mother will not tell :
In future, be a better child,

And all will then be well.

Mischievousness punished.

" THAT'S right, my boy," said George to James,

" How glad I am you're come !
And if you can, pray, stay all day,

We'll have some charming fun.

" I'll fetch the cat — see, here's a mouse !

We'll tie it to her tail,
And laugh to see how she'll turn round

Just like our windmill sail."

Now Puss was on the faggot-pile,

And in a peaceful doze,
Nor dream'd how very soon she'd be

Robb'd of her sweet repose.

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A hog-tub placed beside this pile
For many a month had stood,

The top of which reach'd full half way
The level of the wood.

Aided by this, George climb 'd aloft,

And Puss was soon secure
Within his grasp ; — but coming down,

The way he climb'd before,

A dreadful scratch across his face,
For squeezing Puss too tight,

CompelPd him now to lose his hold,
As very well it might.

So, headlong in the tub he fell

Quite over head and ears,
And sinking in this filthy wash,

Oh ! who could tell his fears ?

But soon ascending up again

With arms extended wide —
And well for him it was so full, —

He caught hold of the side.

He now began to bawl aloud,

Which brought the servants round,

And every one astonish 'd was
He'd not therein been drown 'd.

His father too, among the rest,

Now quickly did appear,
And George, who lately quaked with cold,

Began to quake with fear :

And justly too, for soon the whip,

That closely round him sat,
Convinced him 'twas a wicked thing

To tantalise the cat.

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The Rose.

As I walked down a lovely parterre
Where Flora her beauties display'd

I with rapture, unceasing, admired
Her tints, and gradations of shade.

Laburnums bright, pendent, and gay,
Intermingled with lilacs were seen,

Whose bunches, half-hidden from view,
Peep'd through a rich lattice of green.

These beauties suspended aloft

That waved their fair heads to and fro,

Seem'd promising friendship and love
To their kindred — the beauties below.

The tulip, so proudly erect,

Bedizen'd with scarlet and gold,

By the side of a peony bloom'd,
And look'd as in rivalry bold.

The emblems of pride here were seen,

And those of humility too ;
For, on the same bed, side by side,

The red rose and white lily grew.

So chequer'd are all things below,

We oft in one family find
The gay, and the grave, and the proud —

The humble in manners and mind.

As I carelessly stray'd up the walk,

A rose at my feet I espied,
Its beauties were faded and gone,

Its leaves were all wrinkled and dried.
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This flower, I had often remarked,

Was the pride of the tree where it grew,

For its tints far out-redden' d the sky,

When young morning had bathed it in dew.

Its beauties attracted the eye

Of a youth who chanced hither to stray,
Who pluck'd it, and wore it awhile,

Then wantonly threw it away.

Ah ! this I exclaim'd with a sigh,

Is too often the fortune of those
Whose beauties but please for awhile,

When they share the same fate as the rose.

Then let me be humble and good,

Like the lily contented to dwell,
Unnoticed, perhaps, by the world,

As the flow'ret that blooms in the dell.

Pride in Danger.

HARRIET was a pretty girl,

But was by all allow a
In manners to be too austere,

And each declared her proud.

She'd violently ring the bell,

Enough to break the wire,
And when poor John came in, perhaps

Twas but to stir the fire.

Sometimes she, merely for a whim,

Would call or ring again,
And when a servant humbly came,

Her wants could not explain.

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The servants tired, as well they might/

Of treatment such as this,
Began much more reluctantly

To run to answer Miss.

One morning, as she sat alone,
And clothed in loose attire,

A spark from off the grate flew out,
And set her all on fire !

She calFd, she rang, most furiously,

So had she oft before —
Therefore no person hastened now

Toward the parlour door.

She quickly bounced out in a blaze,
Through terror and affright;

John met her, caught her up, and then
The flames extinguished quite.

But not before she was so burn'd,

That no one yet could tell
Whether poor Miss would live or die,

Or if she might do well.

In this one thing they all agreed,
Indeed they were quite sure,

That, if her life should be preserved,
She'd handsome be no "more.

She now began, when 'twas too late,

To see her foolish pride,
And much lamented how she'd oft

The servants' patience tried.

Full twelve long tedious months elapse
Before her cure's complete ;

Nor can she now, without a tear,
The dreadful tale relate.

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The Remonstrance.

" I WILL show you some apples, so fine and so red,
Where the branches hang down almost touching

one's head,

And, if you will consent, we'll have some of them too,
For I'm sure there's enough both for me and for you ;
The old man is gone to work hard all the day,
And he will not return till it's night, I dare say ;
And, indeed, if he should, he cannot run fast,
And so nimble are we, we should trick him at last ;
So we've nothing to fear, but away let us go —
What say you, my boy ? Shall it not, then, be so ?"

" I think not," said James, " and I'm sorry to find
You possess such a wicked, ungenerous mind :
What ! ask me to rob ! and, what's worse, a poor

man,

Who scarce gets a living, do all that he can !
As for me, I am sure, if I never had fruit,
And the apples hung there even down to the root,
Not for all the good things that the world could

bestow,

Should it ever be said that I once acted so !
But suppose the old man should be out all the day,
And we should get clear with some apples away ;
What then, may I ask, have you no kind of love
For those best of commands that came down from

above ?
Don't you know it is written, ' Thou never shalt

steal'?

And, Robert, pray tell me, how then did you feel
When you were complaining, while yonder at play,
That some wicked boy took your marbles away ?
Did you like it? — Come, tell me — what ! not deign

to speak ?
I know you did not, by that blush on your cheek.

27

Then, again, ne'er presume unto others to do
Those things you dislike to be done unto you.
And, indeed, if my friendship you wish to retain,
Such another proposal ne'er mention again.
Well, now give me your hand, I'll not be severe,
I perceive you repent, by the fall of that tear ;
And I freely forgive you, — but trust, you will see,
As a friend, 'tis a duty incumbent on me,
If a flaw in your conduct I chance to espy,
That no delicate feeling should let it pass by.
But, however, I hope 1 shall never again
Have the unpleasant task of affording you pain ;
So cheer up and smile, my dear Robert, and prove,
That tho' I've been candid, I still have your love."

The Butterfly-Monitor.

" O STAY, little butterfly, stay !

And let me more closely behold
Those wings you so flutter about,

That seem to be spangled with gold.

"O ! how I should like to be dress'd
In clothing so fine and so gay ;

Like you, I would then rove about,
My many fine things to display."

The butterfly heard all she said,

But good manners forbade him to speak,
Till he found her discourse at an end —

Then he silence could venture to break.

So perching himself on a rose,
With countenance solid and grave,

He made a fine bow to the maid,
And thus his instructions he gave :

28

" You are sadly mistaken, my child,
That you, by fine clothes, could be bless'd ;

'Tis virtue and goodness alone

Which can plant a sweet calm in your breast.

" The greatest of beauties must die,

And quickly return to the dust;
But virtue shall triumph o'er both,

And take her fair seat with the just.

" Tis true, a kind Providence gave

Me, in brilliant colours, to shine ;
But remember 'tis but for a day,

And forget not — eternity's thine I"

The Lost S lulling.

1 SAY what makes you cry, my dear ?

And why you look so sad ?
Methinks a little child like you

Should cheerful be, and glad.

" I hope, my love, 'tis not because
To school you're sent today ;

And, that you cry because you want
To waste your time in play ?"

c< No, sir, indeed, I love my school,
As all my friends can tell ;

But being sent to buy a loaf,
I slipp'd, and down I fell.

" My knee I've sadly bruis'd, I fear,
My forehead too I've hurt;

But, what is worse, I fear I've lost
My shilling in the dirt.

me to the spot
arents lire ,

29

" Though mother bade me hold it fast,

And unto me did say,
'See, Nancy, this is all I've earn'd

By working hard all day !

" ' So if you should this shilling lose,

Remember what Fve said,
You and your little brothers must

Go supperless to bed/

" Tis this, indeed, sir, makes me cry :

And oh ! my brothers too,
If they should nothing have to eat,

O dear ! what will they do ?"

" But they shall something have to eat,"

The gen'rous stranger said ;
'* So cease your tears, and wipe your eyes,

My artless little maid;

"And then conduct me to the spot
Where your poor parents live,

And what they need, within my pow'r,
I'll freely to them give.

*' That little warm and gen'rous heart
Which glows within your breast,

Though young,~indeed, doth well bespeak
You feel for the distressed.

"Such love toward your brothers shewn,

Shall not forgotten be ;
And should you ever need a friend,

That friend you'll find in me."

30

The Reluctant Scholar.

MOT love to go to school ! why, then, at once

I think I may conclude, you'll be a dunce ;

And then, I'm sure, if that should be the case,

You well maybe ashamed to shew your face.

Not love to learn to read, to write, and spell !

Oh, fie ! for shame ! I hope no one will tell

Your father, how you have behaved today,

And wish'd the little truant-boy to play.

You know that William Grant, not long ago,

Was most severely whipp'd for doing so ;

And then compelled to stand upon a stool,

Just in the very middle of the school,

Where every boy might see his sad disgrace,

And mark the conscious blush upon his face :

Nor was this all of his unhappy fate —

For not one bit was he allow'd to eat

Throughout the day ; and when he went to bed,

His only fare a morsel of dry bread.

You would not like to be served thus, you say ;

Be a good boy then , otherwise you may ;

For tho' I know your father's temper mild,

He will not spare the rod, and spoil the child.

Come, then, my love, make haste and run to school ;

Then, in the ev'ning, when it's grown more cool,

We'll take a walk along the river side,

And see the little fishes gently glide

Beneath the stream — behold them skip and play,

And sport their little wat'ry hours away.

Meantime repair to school — attention pay,

While there, to every word your teachers say.

Youth is the bud, dear boy, of life mature,

And hard 's the task to keep that bud secure

From blight and canker-worms, those seeds of death,

Bred by the gale of folly's sickly breath :

31

But may the kind instructions on you shed,
Secure from injury your infant head !
May your fair bud of life thus soon disclose
A sweeter fragrance than the lovely rose!

Edwin at his Sister s Tomb.

POOR Clara! art thou sleeping here

In darkness and in death ?
And could not all our tears and sighs

Recall thy fleeting breath?

Oh, no ! thy friends tried ev'ry art,

In that conflicting hour,
To save thee from the shafts of death,

And stay the tyrant's pow'r.

I saw mamma hang o'er thy couch,

I saw her wipe thine eyes,
When she exclaim'd, ' Poor, suffering child !

I heard thy piteous cries.

When first I heard the nurse declare,
Poor dear, thou couldst not speak,

I sobb'd, and cried, and really thought
My little heart would break.

For well did I remember then

Thy kindness and thy glee,
The pretty presents too, thou gav'st

So fondly unto me.

When in the morning I arose

And sent to heav'n a prayer,
That God would guide me thro' the day,

I own'd thy constant care.

32

That care then saw me wash'd anddress'd,
And smoothly comb'd my hair ;

And, o'er my cheeks, thy willing hand
Would youth's sweet rose repair.

But thou art gone, and never canst

Again return to me :
Then let my life be pure as thine,

That I may go to thee.

And when each sabbath-day returns,

One pleasure I shall have,
Beside this sacred roof, to shed

A tear upon thy grave.

Fatal Curiosity,

TWAS at that season of the year
When orchards breathe perfume.

When gay laburnums wave their heads,
And softer lilacs bloom :

Nature her carpet fair had spread,

Bedeck'd with varied hue ;
For here the tufted cowslip hung,

And there the primrose blew :

When from a cottage, near a grove, —

Ah ! must the muse relate
The cloud that darken 'd such a scene,

That cloud of fearful fate ?—

Forth from the cot of health and peace,

Proceed an infant pair,
Gay as the lark that mounts on high,

And, as the morning, fair.

S3

Their parents, thoughtless and unwise,

Permitted them to stray
Into one meadow, and no more,

To see the lambs at play.

But flow'rs have charms for minds mature,

As well as infantile,
No wonder then, if, step by step,

Fresh beauties did beguile.

Thus soon forgetting all restraint

That kindness had imposed,
They, by transgressing love's command,

Were soon by toils inclosed.

They now were on forbidden ground,

And fancied there they spied
Enjoyments better still by far

aijoyments better sti
Than those already

tried.

Thus youthful wanderers often find,
That pleasure's flattering breath

Is but a snare that leads them on
To darkness and to death.

Blithe as the flocks that grazed around,
They frolick'd o'er the green ;

When, yet half-hidden by the trees,
The sparkling stream was seen.

Here many unknown beauties rose,
To meet their raptured sight;

The fish were frisking up and down,
With scaly armour bright —

The sunbeams tremble on the wave,
The shadowy branches play ;

The clouds seem moving in the flood
And rolling fast away !

34

They now approach with eager steps,
To view these wonders near ;

And then, as in a mirror bright,
Reflected forms appear.

They stand, and, smiling, look awhile,
Then slip through rush and sedge :

Ah ! hapless babes, they little know
They are on ruin's edge !

The treacherous bank too soon gives way
On which their feet have stood,

And oh ! the muse deplores their fate !
They plunge beneath the flood.

Three times the lovely infants rise,

But none is near to save ;
They sink, alas ! to rise no more, —

Theirs is a wat'ry grave !

Early Repentance.

IF naughty children vex their friends,

I never will, I'm sure ;
And if I ever did so once,

I will do so no more.

For they are kind and good to me,
Therefore I should delight,

In every thing I say or do,
To study what is right.

I never shall forget, one day
I pull'd poor Pompey's tail,

When suddenly he, turning round,
Knock'd down the milking-pail.

35

Now, father thinking him to blame,
(Poor Pompey !) kick'd his side ;

And knowing that it was my fault,
I sat me down and cried.

For, though I never did intend
To give poor Pompey pain,

Yet never will I once in sport
Pull Pompey's tail again.

Infant Gratitude.

HERE I lie upon my bed,
With pillows soft to rest my head
Blankets warm, with sheets so clean,
Curtains, too, that do me screen.
O what pains mamma must take,
Such good things for me to make !
Some for use and some for pleasure,
Sure her love's beyond all measure.
Let me then, too, ever prove
Full of gratitude and love.

Morning.

THE sun on my pillow shines warm,
And seems to say, Edwin, arise !

I smell the sweet breath of the morn,
And hear the lark's song in the skies.

Then shall I, through slumber, forego,
Those rosy-cheek M hours of delight ?

O no ! let me hasten abroad —
Adieu to the shades of the night.

36

I hear, from yon meadows, where oft
I wander the wild-flow'rs among,

The blackbird is tuning his voice,

To greet the young day with his song.

All nature in harmony joins,
And every sound seems to say,

Come, quit the dull chambers of sleep,
And haste to the mountains away.

But ere I depart from the spot

Where from danger securely Pve slept,

Let me offer up praise to my God,

By whose goodness alone I've been kept.

Then accept of my infantile praise,
Thou Father of mercy and love ;

And may the kind angels of light
Waft my prayer to mansions above !

THE END.

LONDON: WILLIAM D.^RTON, 58, HOLBORN-HILL.

1

THE PRINTS FOII INFANT SCHOOLS:

CONSISTING OF A SERIES OF

LARGE SHEET PRINTS,

VARIOUS SORTS, UNIFORMLY ENGRAVED.

COLOURED, PRICE OXE SHILLING EACH.

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM DARTON, 58, HOLBORN HILL.

1. The Harvest Home, engraved in a pleasing style, and re.
presenting the busy scenes connected therewith.

2. The Farm Yard, consisting of an assemblage of interest-
ing rural subjects.

3. Natural History of Birds: intended to furnish the young
mind with a correct notion of an interesting part of the animal
creation.

4. Natural History of Quadrupeds ; containing striking re-
presentations of some of the brute creation.

5. Natural History; comprising 42 engraved objects of
animals.

6. The Cries of London, exhibited in appropriate characters.

7. John Giipin, representing the humorous adventures of
that celebrated citizen.

8. Common Things necessary to be known at an early age ;
or, engraved representations of some things connected with
every-day scenes.

9. Scripture Prints, to excite in young minds an interest in
reading the scriptures of truth.

10. Children's Pictures to Amuse and Instruct, contrived to
fix on the attention of young children a knowledge of many
useful things.

It. Natural History of Fisbes, comprising engravings of
different inhabitants of the sea and rivers.

12. The British Sovereigns, from William the Conqueror to
Georpe IV. designed to assist in teaching the elements of Eng-
lish History and Chronology.

13. Boiany : consisting of engraved figures ot varuns sub-
jects connected with the vegetable kingdom.

14.
Seeir

1.5. The Art of Talking with the Finge ,
phabet; whereby conversation may beheld with those who are
either deaf or dumb.

16. European Costumes; depicting the peculiar character-
istics of the various nations of this quarter of *he Globe.

17. Asiatic Costumes; containing an assemblage of the va-
rious natives of Asia.

18. Infancy, Youth, Manhood, and Old Age; consisting of a
faithful display of the four important periods ;n the life of man.

19. Cabinet of British and Foreign Animals; comprising
forty-two representations of Quadrupeds; intended to impress

minds with a knowledge of Natural History.
Cabinet of Birds; engraved for the purpose of furnishing
hildren with a correct notion of this interesting part of

cts connected with the vegetable kingdom.

14. The Five Senses; representing an engraved exhibition of
:eing, Heaving, Tasting, Smelling, and Feeling.

15. The Art of Talking with the Fingers, or the Dumb Al-